Hudson County Official Weighs In On Rent Control Issue; Jersey City Council Meeting Nears

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — As rents continue to rise nationwide and people around the country debate whether national laws could help maintain stability, Jersey City and Hoboken residents have discussed how to interpret and strengthen their cities' existing rent control rules.

Average rents in Jersey City have soared become the highest in the country, and a recent survey said the city now has more than 100 millionaires renting in town.

Jersey City residents plan to bring various matters related to rents and tenancy to this Wednesday night's City Council meeting at 6 p.m.

One group, Right to Counsel Jersey City, has been asking the city to pass a law allowing tenants facing eviction to be able to obtain free legal help to fight in court.

While New Jersey's eviction laws say that landlords can only evict for specific reasons — such as nonpayment of rent — that doesn't mean a tenant will have the money or resources to fight if they get locked out without just cause.

New York City already has a Right to Counsel law. Now Jersey City activists think their town should pass a similar law, and are asking supporters to attend the council meeting Wednesday. More information on their effort is here.

Hudson County Commissioner Romano Weighs In

Meanwhile, Anthony Romano, who represents Hoboken and part of Jersey City in Hudson County's government, issued a letter on Feb. 1 (below) related to a different tenancy controversy in that city.

In the late 1980s, new buildings constructed in New Jersey were allowed to apply for a 30-year exemption from local rent control rules. Recently, some of those buildings have not been able to present proof that they ever got the exemption.

Tenants of two waterfront towers in Jersey City, known as Portside East and West, were spurred to research the laws last year after some received large rent hikes. As a result, the city determined at least one of the buildings now falls under rent control.

However, tenants have said they believe the city is not interpreting the law correctly — and that both buildings have fallen under rent control for several years.

Kevin Weller of the Portside Towers Tenant Association said this week he believes that the below letter from County Commssioner Romano is evidence that Jersey City's new director of the Office of Landlord/Tenant Relations is not enforcing and applying the law correctly. This matter may be brought up at the council meeting on Wednesday as well.

Portside is among several buildings in Hudson County that were purchased by a national firm, Equity Residential, in the last few years.

Tenants have been complaining about large rent increases. Last year, an Equity building in Hoboken was also determined to be under rent control after residents protested.

The state of New Jersey doesn't have its own law to limit rent hikes, but says increases must be "conscionable" and leaves it to court precedent and to local laws to set limits.

See the agenda packet for the Wednesday, Feb. 8 Jersey City council meeting here.

Read recent coverage of rent control and rent issues in Hudson County here:

• Luxury Waterfront Tower Now Falls Under Rent Control, Jersey City Says
• Rents In Jersey City And Hoboken Among Highest In Country
• Rent Control Changes Up For Final Vote At Hoboken Meeting